Method and system for operating a vehicle combination

Abstract

A method for operating a vehicle combination ( 2 ) on a longitudinally inclined roadway ( 4 ) can be carried out when the vehicle combination ( 2 ) is located on the longitudinally inclined roadway ( 4 ). The method includes detecting a tensile or compressive force acting on a trailer drawbar ( 12 ) of a vehicle trailer ( 10 ) of the vehicle combination ( 2 ) using a force sensor ( 22 ) arranged on the trailer drawbar ( 12 ); generating a brake signal as a function of the detected tensile or compressive force; and controlling a mechanical friction brake ( 32 ) of the vehicle trailer ( 10 ) based on the generated brake signal for providing a braking force acting on the vehicle trailer ( 10 ). In addition, a system ( 200 ) for carrying out the method, a vehicle trailer ( 10 ) having such a system ( 200 ), and a vehicle combination ( 2 ) having such a vehicle trailer ( 10 ) are disclosed.

1 . A method for operating a vehicle combination ( 2 ) on a longitudinally inclined roadway ( 4 ), comprising:
 providing the vehicle combination ( 2 ) on the longitudinally inclined roadway ( 4 );   detecting (S 1 ) a tensile or compressive force acting on a trailer drawbar ( 12 ) of a vehicle trailer ( 10 ) of the vehicle combination ( 2 ) using a force sensor ( 22 ) arranged on the trailer drawbar ( 12 );   generating (S 2 ) a brake signal as a function of the detected tensile or compressive force; and   controlling (S 3 ) a mechanical friction brake ( 32 ) of the vehicle trailer ( 10 ) based on the generated brake signal for providing (S 4 ) a braking force acting on the vehicle trailer ( 10 ).   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 determining a force reversal between a tensile force acting on the trailer drawbar ( 12 ) and a compressive force acting on the trailer drawbar ( 12 ), wherein, in the step of generating (S 2 ) the brake signal, the brake signal is generated as a function of the determined force reversal.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 regulating the braking force acting on the vehicle trailer ( 10 ) based on the generated brake signal for providing the braking force acting on the vehicle trailer ( 10 ).   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 recognizing (S 0 ) a slope ( 5 ) of the longitudinally inclined roadway ( 4 ) on which the vehicle combination ( 2 ) is located, wherein the steps of generating (S 2 ) the brake signal and controlling (S 3 ) the mechanical friction brake ( 32 ) are carried out at a standstill of the vehicle combination ( 2 ) in the recognized slope ( 5 ), and   wherein controlling (S 3 ) the mechanical friction brake ( 32 ) includes providing a retaining force acting on the vehicle trailer ( 10 ) in the slope ( 5 ).   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 recognizing (S 0 ) a slope ( 5 ) of the longitudinally inclined roadway ( 4 ) on which the vehicle combination ( 2 ) is located,   wherein the steps of the method are carried out upon an acceleration of the vehicle combination ( 2 ) in the recognized slope ( 5 ),   wherein controlling (S 3 ) the mechanical friction brake ( 32 ) includes generating a retaining force acting on the vehicle trailer ( 10 ) when the vehicle combination ( 2 ) is accelerated as a function of the detected tensile or compressive force.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 recognizing (S 0 ) a slope of the longitudinally inclined roadway ( 4 ) on which the vehicle combination ( 2 ) is located,   wherein the steps of the method are carried out when the vehicle combination ( 2 ) is located in the recognized gradient,   wherein controlling (S 3 ) the mechanical friction brake ( 32 ) includes generating a retaining force acting on the vehicle trailer ( 10 ) as a function of the detected tensile or compressive force in the slope.   
     
     
         7 . A system ( 200 ) for operating a vehicle combination ( 2 ) on a longitudinally inclined roadway ( 4 ), the system comprising:
 a force sensor ( 22 ) arranged on a trailer drawbar ( 12 ) of a vehicle trailer ( 10 ) of the vehicle combination ( 2 ), wherein the force sensor ( 22 ) is configured to detect a tensile or compressive force acting on the trailer drawbar ( 12 ) when the vehicle combination ( 2 ) is located on the longitudinally inclined roadway ( 4 ); and   a control device ( 100 ) configured to generate a brake signal as a function of the detected tensile or compressive force when the vehicle combination ( 2 ) is located on the longitudinally inclined roadway ( 4 )   wherein the control device ( 100 ) is further configured to trigger a mechanical friction brake ( 32 ) of the vehicle trailer ( 10 ) based on the generated brake signal in such a way that the mechanical friction brake ( 32 ) provides a braking force acting on the vehicle trailer ( 10 ) when the vehicle combination ( 2 ) is located on the longitudinally inclined roadway ( 4 ).   
     
     
         8 . The system ( 200 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the system ( 200 ) is configured so as to carry out the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle trailer ( 10 ) on which the system ( 200 ) according to  claim 7  is arranged, wherein the system is configured to trigger a mechanical friction brake ( 32 ) of the vehicle trailer ( 10 ) for providing a braking force. 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle combination ( 2 ) comprising:
 at least one vehicle trailer ( 10 )   the system ( 200 ) according to  claim 7  arranged on the at least one vehicle trailer,   wherein the system is configured to trigger a mechanical friction brake ( 32 ) of the at least one vehicle trailer ( 10 ) for providing a braking force.